Weekly Extra Chapter
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"Has the snake really died? I can't believe it!" Kakuzu said with disbelief. "Even I failed to kill him time after time. I liked him as a partner."
"He is alive." Pain said matter of factly, as he looked at the red-eyed person standing there without any intention to speak. "Itachi-san, when will he return?"
"Soon." was the only answer the other got. They didn't know why the leader was asking Itachi instead of finding out directly, but they couldn't interfere with that anyway, so they ignored it.
"Let's put that matter behind us for now. Sadly Orochimaru failed to get Kyubi this time, but at least, he had weakened Konoha in general. We will try again soon, but for the time being, we will focus on others in a few years." Pain said once again.
"Why are we waiting?" Kisame asked with a tilt of his head. His eyes were shining with curiosity.
"Because of you, little fish," Sasori said with disdain.
"Who are you calling little fish? You stupid piece of wood!" Kisame howled in anger.
"Isn't it obvious?" Sasori looked with disdain, "Is there anyone else here with gills?"
"Enough!" Pain interfered and continued. "When you failed to catch your precious Mizukage and allowed him to blast himself apart, Sanbi disappeared and it will take time for it to form once again."
"I know that, but we don't have to gather them all at once, right?" Kisame asked once again.
"No, but if our movements were to be realized by the hidden villages, they might hide away their Jinchuriki or set an ambush near Sambi." Pain stated as he looked at Itachi with a side-eye. As if he wanted to see his reaction but as always, the red-eyed maniac was listless.
"For the time being, we will have contracts with any nation that requires our service to raise funds. When the time for Sambi to appear is nigh, we will once again focus on our primary objective. Until then, work hard."
With it, the meeting ended, and the silhouettes disappeared one after another.
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In a rainy city, at the top of the highest building, three people were standing behind a teen sitting at the edge of the balcony. Although there was nothing covering him from the rain, magically not a drop fell on him. But if one took a closer look, they would realize only the orange-headed teen with Rinnegan was using chakra just by standing there.
"Itachi-Sama!" An orange-masked man with a black cloak covered with red clouds kneeled on his knees. "How is your health after the surgery?"
He didn't need to ask, because he could see that always pale teen of before now looked rosy. His figure was more robust and his eyes were stronger than ever. But as a good underling, he asked anyway.
"These cells are extraordinary. I can feel the power surging within me. My eyes are now better than ever." Itachi softly muttered.
"Such a relief." Tobi heaved a sigh of relief.
"Obito, have you found every Sharingan?" Itachi asked as he gazed at the sky. When he did so, he saw a barrier stopping every single raindrop. He turned Pain and muttered softly, "Let it fall."
Now, the rain started to wet his hair, and softly fall on his face. One coincidentally fell on his eye and fell like a tear.
"I found every single one of them, but I still failed to find the pair belonging to your brother. Please punish me!" Obito looked at the ground, as he shivered.
"It is not your fault. There is something strange going on." Itachi said as he sighed helplessly.
"Do you want me to raze Konoha to the ground? I can unearth whatever they are hiding!" Pain asked as he knelt too. Konan looked at his friend's dead body in wonder but didn't interfere.
"No need." Itachi rejected the notion. "It will come to me sooner or later. I can feel it."
"About your previous order, Itachi-Sama." Obito started, as he looked at Itachi. Seeing him not saying anything, he said, "We managed to farm a pair of Mangekyo."
"Good, give them to Orochimaru." Itachi nodded.
"Are you sure, Itachi-Sama? The snake is dangerous. We can never trust him." Obito asked in worry.
"No problem. I tamed him for good this time." Itachi softly said, as if he tamed a pet.
"As per your orders," Obito said and disappeared in a twirl.
"Itachi-Sama, about that Koushin…"
"Let him be for the time being. He is loyal to Konoha and Kyubi's Jinchuuriki." Itachi ordered. "When the time is right, and he is more mature, I will have a talk with him. I wonder what he will feel when he learns he was orphaned by Danzo. His mother and father had been killed in front of him."
"You can go too. I will watch the rain a bit further." He said after a while.
"Yes." The duo said and disappeared into the building.
"Nagato, why are you taking orders from Itachi?" Konan asked when they were out of Itachi's range.
"When I first went to speak with him, his ideals convinced me. Under his leadership, Akatsuki will reach heights we alone can never reach. His idea of peace is way above ours." Pain spoke with zest.
"But you are the leader of the Akatsuki!" Konan said incredulously.
"Yohiko was the leader of the Akatsuki!" Pain hissed in pain. "He was the leader and when he passed away, I only took over his mantle, but I am not a leader. Not good enough. Itachi is suited to take his mantle better than I. That is why I chose to trust him in this endeavor."
"Are you sure there is nothing else?" Konan asked in worry. Her eyes were soft and caring. The body in front of him contained two people she loved more than anything. Soul of Nagato and the body of Yohiko.
"Yes, nothing else." Pain said with a fervent look in his eyes.
"Okay, I will trust you." Konan nodded and followed after him.
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